Liliuokolani turned cold with pallor, and Gutenborj paced the floor
like the caged lion he seemed. Kaiuolani grew impatient and hostile
with suspense, and only Aokahameha tried as best he could to calm a
dangerous and growing distrust. The rabble of malcontents or the parade
of underlings bore no significance to an ardent believer; his command
was supreme and their motives pure--but the noise and the confusion
would not cease; the ambition of Harvenoiq flamed and raged under the
quest of rapidly increasing power.
He had at last seen with his own eyes the fighting forces of pent
up America, his own belated and hard-scoffed country, land upon the
shores of a belligerent if well-meaning nation. He had foretasted the
pride of conquest and marvelled the possibilities of a new birth and
broader sphere. All this impressed him, and awakened within a truer
comprehension of the individual responsibilities; but the only too
potent thought of sharing the glory with an unregenerate, an escaped
culprit and traitor to all restraint, more than outweighed the waning
sense of an illy begotten, scantily developed understanding. The
spokesman of a great and trustful people floundered in the throes of
consequential duty, and thence found himself given over body and soul
to the wiles of a revengeful, senile mood.
These men were applauding another for the enterprise they had long
sought; America, their native country, had for once and for all taken
a hand in the moulding of a destiny ardently hoped; his own act had
set in motion the machinery with which to build; the empire launched,
no force within the grasp of mere man could stay its certain progress,
the honor of the occasion would fall to the lot of a hated accomplice,
for his fellows were keen to light the fires and an absent constituency
stood quick to applaud heroism--whether false or true, to lionize and
uphold. There must be some devised means of attaining the desired end,
as to a man they would not, could not release a vantage hold.
Standing at one side, well up on the bank, free and unmolested, the
vexed minister viewed with satisfaction the mixed faces that appeared
only too eager to do homage and maintain. They should not be checked in
their zeal, but an abounding sympathy were better bestowed where self
might relish the plaudits.
Long years of deprivation and hope had seared the breast of every
Annexationist with an abiding faith in the government which he had left
behind. At home the toiling populace engaged itself with encouraging,
maintaining and strengthening an edifice that reared within the
boundaries of a birth-given domain. The seed of larger unity must
germinate outside the walls of a sacred, prolific field of sustenance:
must take root in the barren soil of a rock-ridden wilderness, fit only
for the habitation of aspiring renegades, the handful that always blaze
the way, cradle the song that soothes, uplifts the fallen, builds
forever anew.
The picture of greatness loomed before their covetous brother.
Harvenoiq could see well the end. These same men who labored at home
would go to any extremity if their patriotism were but touched, their
loyalty seemed in the least questioned. A leader’s name should be
toasted by every tongue, heralded as a father’s, and inscribed upon the
pages of universal history.
It was more than he could bear to lose, and facing the ranks Harvenoiq
read in that stalwart uniform and abundant equipment the means of ready
attainment.
They were men-fashioned instruments who of necessity stood ready to
hear and eager to do the bidding of a nation. No pride of freedom
disturbed their consciences, no love for kind stayed the primal blow;
the spurs that stimulate had never penetrated their born-servant skins.
Little should they care were the whole earth to find itself tied hand
and head to the merciless stake of a tyrant’s driving so long as they
might brush and beg. Here again chieftainship waxed supreme, became the
sole important thing, as men lose individuality only to respect the
more the individual.
Bender alone stood in the pathway of ultimate supremacy.
Momentarily the thought burned hotly his cheeks, which soon turned a
livid white. He could stand no longer such treatment. His own neglect
he might have borne, but a rival’s praise unnerved him, and taking
advantage of an official semblance the blundering minister rushed among
Bender’s admirers,--utterly ignoring the only shadow of an excuse
that he might have advanced for his own unwarranted acts,--shouting
authoritatively to the commodore:
“Arrest the leader, and disperse the mob!”
Uhlrix started with surprise, and looking round at the friendly faces
and feeling yet the warm grasp of Bender spoke inquiringly:
“Who is the leader, of whom you speak, and where are the rioters, may I
ask?”
Harvenoiq looked down whipped and irresolute to the ground he maligned.
He had never before so much as ventured an unborrowed or self-suggested
assertion; and now that he had blundered himself into an inexplicable
and irrevocable responsibility his whole being resolved itself into
one continuous, unbroken whirl of uncertainty. Presently his eyes rose
appealingly to the man he would dislodge. Possibly he may have conjured
the hope of an up to that time welcome adviser’s grateful surrender;
more likely he found himself devoid of a single trait obligatory of
independent action: what with expectation and failure disapprobation
rent asunder the weak but ardent dream; the accused answered adroitly,
and the commodore’s brow knit with vexatious determination.
“These men are Americans,” said Bender, “and neither you nor I have
cause to question the good faith of this assemblage or to insult the
command that would do us justice. I deny you the right to dictate; an
American commodore brooks no interference. The disturbance is at the
capitol.”
“Liar! Deceiver! I require----” shouted Harvenoiq, unable further to
restrain an unbridled temper.
“Orderly, arrest these men, and we shall march them forthwith to the
seat of justice. Unable to retrace my steps, that I am, I shall have
done a service in landing here to-day if only to escort two belligerent
subjects into the hands of a proper authority,” said the commodore,
savagely cutting short the hot-headed minister’s heedless speech.
“I am an American official, sir, and as such claim superiority,”
remonstrated Harvenoiq, without the least perceptible effect.
“I am an American citizen, but must not be seen behind these ranks. My
local duties deny me the pleasure of so flagrant a spectacle,” pleaded
Bender, no less unable to gain the commodore’s listless ear.
“Companies into fours, forward, march!” awakened some dull
comprehensions and gladdened the knowing ones, as lines of glistening
carbines and a jovial, eager command stood ready to wheel and tramp,
they cared not where, but to the time and tune of a regularly cash-paid
corps.
The crestfallen minister doggedly pursued them, with Bender,
mortified and expectant, close at his guard-watched elbow. They bore
the predicament in silence, but a waning hope vainly satisfied the
quickening consciousness of each. Only a few minutes of grace and their
part stood well to abide fairly the prowess of a lone, unhampered
mother wit.